Malmaison reveals £1m refurbishment of Edinburgh hotel

Malmaison is nearing the completion of a £1m refurbishment of its 100-bedroom Edinburgh property, which was the first hotel to launch in what is now a 13-strong boutique brand.

The improvements – part of a wider £5m investment in the Scottish portfolio of Malmaison and sister brand Hotel du Vin – includes the creation of a Chez Mal brasserie and bar, a concept which has already been introduced into the group’s hotels in London, Leeds and Newcastle.

While the food offer of classic steakhouse and French brasserie dishes remain the same, the interior in the restaurant has been lightened and brought up to date with leather seating, exposed brickwork and natural wood finishes. Meanwhile, the bedrooms are being upgraded with the introduction of a number of new club rooms.

In-house designers have worked with the design group Curious to create the new look.

Located in Leith, the hotel, which was built in 1883, has played a key role in the regeneration of the area since opening in 1994.

The wider Scottish investment includes a £2m refurbishment of the Glasgow Malmaison, which has involved the launch of Honours restaurant in conjunction with chef Martin Wishart, while a Chez Mal restaurant will be launched at the Aberdeen hotel at a cost of £450,000.

Paul Roberts (pictured), chief executive of Malmaison Hotel du Vin, said: “Edinburgh was home to our first ever Malmaison and has been a cornerstone of the brand’s success. It is hugely exciting and appropriate to see the hotel’s pioneering nature in evidence once again.”

While the seven Scottish hotels across the two brands – incorporating a total of 12 Malmason and 16 Hotel du Vin properties across the UK – are generally performing well, Roberts said that the Malmaison Aberdeen has been struggling alongside other hotels in the city, where occupancy rates and room rates have dropped by up to 35% and 40% respectively.

“It is a very difficult market, but Malmaison has maintained its number one position with an amazing local following.”

Beyond Scotland, Roberts said he will soon be announcing the rebranding of the four hotels, including two Chapter hotels in Cheltenham and Exeter and a further two properties in Bristol and Brighton that the group acquired from Swire Properties in December 2015.

“We will also look at further additional properties across the UK and in Europe, including more in Scotland, if the opportunities arise,” added Roberts.

Malmaison and Hotel du Vin were acquired by Fraser Hospitality UK – a subsidiary of Singapore-based property firm Frasers Centrepoint Limited – in June 2015 for £363.4m. The company has since announced that it intends to grow the two brands to around 50 hotels.